Here are our player scouting reports for the Indiana Pacers.
Projected starters
George Hill
Position: Guard
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Efficient point guard who showed ability to take on a larger offensive role last season
+ Average long-range shooter with vastly improved midrange shot in 2014-15
+ Upper-tier point guard defender with long arms for height to bother opposing shooters
Analysis
The Pacers' four-year run as a playoff team ended last season with franchise player Paul George missing most of the year with a broken leg. Yet, Indiana might still have made the postseason if not for another set of injuries: the ones that limited George Hill to five games through Jan. 21. Hill missed Indiana's first 28 games with a knee contusion and quad tear, played five games (of which the Pacers won three), then missed 11 more games with a groin injury. All in all, Hill played 43 games, 26 of which the Pacers won, which projects to a 49-win team over a full season.
When he did play, Hill had never been better. Forced to take on more of a scoring role because of George's absence and Lance Stephenson's departure, Hill's usage rate made the unheard of leap from 14.8 percent to 23.8. Yet his true-shooting percentage actually went up to .579 (85th percentile).
On top of that, Hill's turnover rate went down and his foul-drawing rate stayed the same. Hill simply created, took, and made more shots. He's long been an unselfish, almost deferential, player with careful shot selection and high efficiency. But we always figured he was simply smart enough to play within himself. Now we have to wonder if Hill could have been doing more all along, as he really seemed to thrive when having the ball in his hands more often. His frontcourt touches per 100 possessions went up from 97 to 114. The unselfishness was still there, as Hill's assist rate hit a career-high 7.9 percent (91st percentile). His midrange accuracy increased from 33 to 48 percent, accounting for the spike in 2-point percentage.
It's fair to wonder if the newfound accuracy is sustainable, but with the Pacers planning to play faster without a true backup point guard, the more pressing problem for Indiana will be keeping Hill on the court for a full season. As Hill integrates his game with George and new backcourt partner Monta Ellis, hopefully he won't defer as readily as he has through most of his NBA career. Though 6-foot-2, Hill has a 6-foot-9 wingspan and is usually a top defender for his position, though his RPM fell off a bit on that end during the season. Still, with him on the floor, the Pacers allowed under a point per possession and he held opposing shooters 3.2 percent below their season averages, per SportVu.
Monta Ellis
Position: Guard
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ One of the top players in the league off the dribble when either scoring or passing
+ Limited range on jumper allows teams to play under ball screens
+ Short-armed risk-taker on defense with an elite ability to play the passing lanes
Analysis
Ellis bet on himself after the 2014-15 season, declining his $8.7 million option and ultimately signing a four-year, $44 million deal with Larry Bird and the Pacers. Ellis will be at the center of Indiana's plan to reinvent its on-court style to better conform to current league trends. The deal is a fair value in a vacuum and will look particularly good after the cap shoots up next summer. Yet in many ways, this is a risky investment by Bird. The Pacers are taking on a player who annually uses 26 percent or more of his teams' possessions with a per-touch efficiency right around league average. Ellis is dynamite off the dribble and last season at least took care of the ball well enough to be above average in the pick-and-roll. But his range tops out at around 22 feet and his ability to convert open catch-and-shoot looks makes him an iffy off-the-ball option. So fine, you put the ball in his hands. If you do that, then Paul George possibly becomes the No. 2 offensive option, because although Ellis is an effective passer, he tends to dominate the ball even when setting up teammates.
Further, using Ellis as a de facto point guard undermines Hill, who is used to blending in with higher-usage teammates but showed last season he can amp up his offensive workload without sacrificing efficiency. It'll be an interesting pairing on both ends. Hill is listed at an inch shorter than the 6-foot-3 Ellis, yet his wingspan is over six inches longer than that of the notoriously short-armed Ellis. If you put Hill on opposing 2s, then Ellis is tasked with tracking point guards, and that mitigates his defensive strength: playing the passing lanes and coming off his primary assignment to draw offensive fouls.
Ellis' defensive RPM crept into positive territory last season, and for all of the things he does that draw criticism, he is a fiercely competitive ballplayer. Whenever Indiana faces a lineup with a designated spot-up shooter, you can always hide Ellis on him, provided he selectively deploys his gambling instincts. The litmus test for Ellis will be whether he blends with his new teammates, or if he forces the Pacers to blend with him.
C.J. Miles
Position: Forward
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-volume bench scorer with good range and off-the-dribble skills
+ Face-up game is streaky
+ Improved defender at both wing positions
Analysis
Miles has quietly become a highly effective rotation player in the NBA and should continue to play an important part for the new-look Pacers. Miles has posted positive RPMs on both ends of the court the last two seasons, rating in roughly the top fifth in the league in both offense and defense in 2014-15. His results in WARP (6.0 over the last two years) put him on the same tier. For a guy slated to make $9 million over the next two seasons before coming up against a player option, that's a heck of a value. Now 10 years into his career, the former preps-to-pros prospect still won't turn 29 until late in the coming season.
His two-way versatility and plus athleticism allow him to swing between the wing positions in a key off-the-bench capacity, though Indiana's injury situation last year put him in the starting lineup 40 times. This year, his role might depend on whether the Pacers want to start games small, when he would vie for minutes at the 3 with Chase Budinger and Solomon Hill.
Miles is a true off-the-ball player who isn't adept at setting up teammates but takes care of the ball. He's outstanding on the attack, particularly going to his left, though he tends to shy away from contact. A lot of Miles' production is tied to his outside shot, which like many players has been up and down through his career. With the Pacers, he's been a little more jumper-oriented, though that could change this season when Indiana has all its weapons back. Both his 3-point shooting and overall catch-and-shoot game are average. On defense, Miles has improved. He draws a lot of offensive fouls and last season posted excellent rates against opposing shooters, against pick-and-roll guards and at the rim.
Paul George
Position: Forward
Experience: 5 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Elite, versatile two-way player coming off injury
+ Improved catch-and-shoot ability has completed offensive arsenal
+ One of the league's top defenders with flexibility to guard four positions
Analysis
It was good to see George back on the court at the end of last season, even though it was for just six games and 91 minutes. After George crumpled against the basket support in Las Vegas last summer and his leg shattered, it was hard not to worry whether he'd come back at all. Now we've seen it and can exhale. If George resumes his previously stratospheric career path, then we can really breathe easy. Reports on him over the summer were positive, as he was able to fully prepare for the start of 2015 training camp. While the sample was tiny and the rust on his game considerable, George showed enough athleticism during his late-season stint to make us believe he'll be the same player. Let's hope so.
While a healthy George might be the same player, he'll be returning to a very different Pacers team and an unusual role. George, who was Indiana's starting shooting guard during his first two pro seasons before moving to the 3, is expected to receive extended run at the 4 this season as part of the Pacers' small-ball initiative. Needless to say, George will be a matchup nightmare for opposing 4s. He reached upper-tier status the season before his injury by becoming a dead-eye shooter from the corners and midrange, enough to fully augment his ability to attack opponents off the dribble. His usage rate was in the 96th percentile and his per-touch efficiency in the 84th. When Indiana puts him at the 4 next to Chase Budinger, C.J. Miles or Solomon Hill, it will be next to impossible to play two bigs against the Pacers.
On defense, George is one of the best in the league. He's slightly built, and you worry that when he does play the 4, he could be muscled in the lane. But there aren't many teams that will stay big against that lineup and, meanwhile, George can either erase your own stretch 4 or guard your best offensive wing at an elite level. In the first year of full SportVu tracking, George held opposing shooters to 4.7 percent below their norm (90th percentile). In a small sample of 30 shots at the end of last season, he held shooters to a league-best 9.2 percent below norm. His defensive RPM is annually the top 10 percent of the league and he's underrated as a defensive rebounder. George is the full package, hopefully healthy, and just entering his prime. However the Pacers use him, expect a big season.
Ian Mahinmi
Position: Center
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic shot-blocker and rim protector
+ Too foul-prone to play a big-minutes role
+ Very limited on offense with a sky-high turnover rate
Analysis
Entering his eighth NBA season, Mahinmi will no longer be backing up Hibbert, and he opened training camp as Hibbert's replacement in the lineup. If the NBA didn't have a foul limit and Mahinmi only had to protect the basket like a hockey goalkeeper, he'd be an All-Star. Alas, the game requires a bit more utility than that in its top performers. His value is entirely wrapped up in his defensive acumen. Mahinmi has ranked in the 90th and 87th percentile per SportVu's data when protecting the rim, holding opposing shooters to 45.6 percent at the hoop over the last two seasons.
His block rate is usually in the top 10 to 15 percent of the league, and his defensive RPM through last season was plus-3.38 (95th percentile). Yet he's not perfect. His foul rate is annually one of the highest in the league, even for a reserve. His defensive rebounding is bizarrely erratic -- his rate last season nearly doubled the season before. (Lance Stephenson effect?) Still, Mahinmi's offensive rebound percentages and success on contested opportunities all suggest he's become a top-flight man on the boards. Mahinmi is a more mobile defender than Hibbert, making it harder to small-ball him off the floor.
Defense aside, Mahinmi's RPMs are usually in the red because of his lack of offense. His usage rate is minimal, but what's worse, a lot of what usage he has is comprised of turnovers and drawing fouls. Like clockwork, he commits miscues on over 18 percent of his possessions each season. And his elite-level foul-drawing rate should be a good thing, except that last season, his free throw accuracy fell by half, all the way to 30.4 percent. He once seemed intent on developing a midrange game, but mercifully the last two seasons has appeared to abandon that effort.
His post game is fine, but his hands of stone and inability to pass the ball effectively limit his utility even in that regard. There aren't many players with such a bipolar set of strengths and weaknesses in the league, but Mahinmi has been around long enough that we must accept this is what he is. As long as you keep him in a short-run, focused role, he is an asset.
Reserves
Rodney Stuckey
Position: Guard
Experience: 8 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Strong scorer off the dribble
+ Improved in catch-and-shoot option last season but is typically inconsistent
+ Below-average on-ball defender but draws a lot of offensive fouls
Analysis
Once expected to be a foundation player for the Pistons, Rodney Stuckey seems to have found his NBA niche after just one season in Indiana. You hate to put it this way, but Stuckey was terrible during his last season with the Pistons, finishing 473rd in the league with minus-2.1 WARP in 2013-14. He had 2.1 WARP last season and was rewarded with a new three-year, $21 million contract during the summer. Stuckey was a little more productive as a sixth man than as a starter after Hill returned to the Indiana lineup, and his comments after signing in July suggest that he's fully embraced the instant offense personae. He's well-suited for the role, with plus athleticism, the ability to play both guard slots and a streaky shooting stroke.
Stuckey really wasn't much different as an offensive player for the Pacers than he was for the Pistons, though he used more possessions when coming off the bench. He's one of the league's top penetrators, using a right-hand dominant approach and a rugged build to bully opposing guards.
According to SportVu, he's been in the top 20 percent leaguewide on points per drive the last two seasons. He's not a great finisher around the basket and instead prefers to stop short of the restricted area for floaters, on which he is above average. With the Pacers, he became a little more 3-point oriented and shot a sterling 39 percent. However, Stuckey's stroke has always been of the come-and-go variety and a regression can be expected. Stuckey's defensive RPM was vastly improved with the Pacers' structure behind him, but he's still below average on that end. That's all the more reason to turn him loose as a sixth man.
Jordan Hill
Position: Center
Experience: 6 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Run-to-the-rim big man who took on too much offense in L.A. last season
+ Became a high-post shooter and passer in 2014-15 but is better moving toward basket
+ Undersized and athletic interior defender with poor rim-protection metrics
Analysis
After the Lakers opened up their center slot at the beginning of the summer by declining Jordan Hill's $9 million option, they filled the hole by trading for former Pacer Hibbert. Indiana, meanwhile, will be replacing Hibbert at least in part with Hill. His one-year, $4 million deal will save them $10.6 million over what they would have paid Hibbert. At four inches shorter and about 43 pounds lighter than Hibbert, Hill will be a bellwether for how well Indiana's transition to a smaller, quicker lineup goes.
There has been a chasm between Hill's individual markers and his RPM the last two seasons. Take last season: Hill's .458 winning percentage was well off his total from the season before, but it still ranked in the NBA's 64th percentile. His RPM (minus-4.12 in the multiseason version) was in the seventh percentile. This was not a new development for Hill, and the disconnect between his production and his impact extends to both ends of the floor.
Of course, Hill toiled for some pretty bad Lakers teams the last couple of seasons, so maybe he'll fare better on a more stable Pacers club. His usage rate bumped up to 22.7 percent last season and shouldn't be as high in Indiana. Perhaps more important than diminished volume will be shot selection. While he used more possessions last year with an increase in turnovers, his foul-drawing rate tumbled. Hill's extra possessions came in the form of midrange jumpers taken like he was living in 1975. In 2013-14, 20 percent of his shots came from midrange. Last year, it was 47 percent, and he converted those shots at a below-average rate.
Hill did improve his assist totals with more of the offense running through him, but he's just not that kind of player. Hopefully, the Pacers get him back near the hoop and on the offensive glass. Defensively, Hill is a poor rim protector, especially in relation to Hibbert. He allowed 51.9 percent shooting last year, per SportVu, and the Pacers will have to game plan around him on that end. On the bright side, Hill is an elite defensive rebounder.
Chase Budinger
Position: Forward
Experience: 6 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Replacement-level wing in three seasons since knee injuries
+ Average 3-point shooter with solid catch-and-shoot ability
+ Poor defender with limited reach to disrupt opposing shooters
Analysis
If he doesn't turn it around soon, Budinger is headed for one of those "what might have been" careers. This season, he gets a fresh start in Indiana. Not only will Budinger be angling for a new contract, but he'll have an excellent shot at earning playing time on what should be a playoff-caliber team, at least in the East. If Budinger does appear in the postseason, it'll be the first time in his career. Flip the calendar back a decade, and Budinger was one of the top 10 recruits in the nation coming out of high school and once viewed as a surefire lottery pick.
By the time he left Arizona, he ended up at No. 44 in the 2009 draft. He began his pro career looking more like the highly-rated prep he was than the second-round afterthought he became. Over his first three NBA seasons, Budinger put up 8.4 WARP and reached the upper quadrant of the league. Then came knee trouble and a pair of surgeries. He missed the entire 2012-13 season and in the three seasons since, he's managed just 0.7 WARP. For what it's worth, Budinger enjoyed a big finish last season in Minnesota, so perhaps he's poised for a renaissance.
Budinger is a consistently average 3-point shooter whose offensive value is more tied to how successful he is inside the arc. Last season, he shot 51 percent on drives, per SportVu, up from 40 percent the season before. Given that he's become primarily a low-usage, catch-and-shoot player, his turnover rate is just average and his passing is not impactful. However, he's often been a solid transition player and that skill could help him earn minutes with a Pacers team trying to rev things up. Still, Budinger will be a complementary weapon and needs to hone his corner shooting to stand out among Indiana's wing options.
His defense is consistently poor. His defensive RPM through last season was minus-1.72 and he ranked in the lower tiers in rim protection, opponent shooting and pick-and-roll defense. He's pretty good when he can lock onto an opponent, so perhaps Indiana's embedded defensive culture will help him improve his team defense. If he can hold up on the defensive end and hit open shots, Budinger could be Indiana's best option as a starting 3 (if George starts at 4) as he'd be more apt to chip in against bigger forwards than Solomon Hill or Miles.
Lavoy Allen
Position: Forward
Experience: 4 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-level offensive rebounder with improved finishing ability at the basket
+ Frequent midrange shooter with an inconsistent stroke
+ Above average big man defender and rim protector
Analysis
The Pacers re-upped with Allen over the summer on a three-year, $12 million deal, and he'll play a key role in the team's new look. Allen is strictly a complementary offensive option. He's in the top 7 or 8 percent of the league as an offensive rebounder and last season showed a much-improved ability to finish around the basket. He likes to step out to midrange to serve as a face-up shooter, and his ability to do that effectively will be important to the Pacers this season.
If Allen can improve his accuracy on those face-ups (he's hit around 36 percent each of the last three years, putting him in the 34th percentile), it'll open up the middle for Indiana's impressive collection of drivers. It will also further strengthen Allen's ability to function in the high post, where he is an above-average assist man for a big. Allen has struggled in catch-and-shoot situations through his career and faces a key challenge to improve that facet of his game.
With Roy Hibbert gone and Jordan Hill unaccomplished on the defensive end, Allen's rim protection will be more important than ever. He's ranked in the 96th and 74th percentile in that regard the last two seasons, per SportVu. He's also solid as a post defender and when playing the pick-and-roll. His defensive RPM the last two seasons has put him in the top 13 percent of all defenders, and it wouldn't be at all surprising to see Allen come out ahead in any kind of time-sharing arrangement with Hill and the offensively-limited Ian Mahinmi. Allen made a significant leap last season and was rewarded with a multiyear pact. This season marks a perfect opportunity for Allen to establish himself as an upper-level rotation player for the first time in his career.
Myles Turner
Position: Center
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Skilled big man with a center's body
+ Deft shooting touch with 3-point range
+ Elite-level shot-blocking skills
Analysis
The Pacers hope they caught a break on draft night when Turner was still there at No. 11. A rare combination of size and skill, Turner could turn out to be legitimate stretch 5, which would make him a centerpiece of Indiana's movement toward small ball. He's got the shot-blocking part of it down, with a SCHOENE projection that would place him among the league's elite in that department right off the bat. According to Synergy, Turner was just an average defender on a per-play basis at Texas. Still, he was the top shot-blocker on the country's 21st-ranked defense, one that held opponents to the lowest 2-point percentage and blocked shots more frequently than any team in the nation, per kenpom.com.
He'll have to beef up to improve his ability to lock down the defensive glass in the NBA, though SCHOENE sees him as capable off the glass. Turner's most ballyhooed attribute is his ability to face up from deep, though he shot just 27 percent on 3s at Texas. Still, he's got a smooth stroke and an excellent touch from the foul line, and we'll likely get to see a lot him in catch-and-shoot opportunities as a rookie. Turner shot over 70 percent around the rim last season, per hoop-math.com, and was a steady post scorer for Texas. The Pacers no longer have a lot of top options to score out of the post, so perhaps Turner begins on the block.
Solomon Hill
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Bouncy wing who likes to attack off dribble
+ Struggles with outside shot when contested
+ Struggles with team defense
Analysis
Solomon Hill's playing time ramped up by more than 2,000 minutes over his rookie season, but since he was still performing at below replacement level, all that extra court time only represented more lost value for the Pacers. His overall RPM (minus-2.31) was actually worse than his first season and his WARP (minus-0.8) placed him in the bottom 10 percent of the league. Despite starting 78 games, Hill is no sure bet to even be a rotation player in his third season. The 2013 first-rounder struggled to find an offensive niche. He drove to the hoop more than any other Pacer and posted an above-average foul-drawing rate. But he was only average on points per drive, largely due to an inability to finish at the rim. Over 9 percent of his shots were blocked.
Meanwhile, Hill struggled with his face-up game as well. He hit just 35.5 percent from midrange and 32.7 percent from deep. Of particular concern was that he shot a measly 11.4 percent on 72 corner 3s, per NBA.com/stats. His defensive RPM (minus-2.02) held little promise, though he did hold opposing shooters to a slightly lower percentage than normal. He's below average in blocks, steals and defensive rebounds. As Hill was a four-year player at Arizona, it remains to be seen how much growth remains in his game. He's only played two seasons and barely saw the court in the first one, so it's too soon to declare those who thought the Pacers reached when they picked Hill as being in the right. Still, this is a big season for Hill.
Joseph Young
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Explosive scorer both as a shooter and finisher
+ Elite foul-shooter
+ Tweener body type
Analysis
Young was projected as a late first-rounder on some draft boards, so for the Pacers to land him at No. 43 is a potentially good get. Young has the common disconnect between skill set and body type that plagues many a top college guard. He's an explosive scorer and shooter, but at 6-foot-2, he's likely built more like a 1 than a 2. As long as he has the ball in his hands, Young can put the ball in the basket. He's quick off the dribble and finishes at the rim, hitting 62.4 percent there as a senior, per hoop-math.com. Not only can he pull up and drill it from deep, he's also good on the catch-and-shoot. According to Synergy, he ranked in the 85th percentile nationally on jumpers off the dribble last season, but was also in the 84th percent without a dribble.
That kind of scoring versatility will serve him well as an instant offense candidate. Of course, he's got to prove he can guard at the pro level. Synergy put him in the 46th percentile on a per-play basis on defense last year on a team that finished 121st in schedule-adjusted defensive rating, per kenpom.com. He'll have to do better than that to play for Frank Vogel.
Toney Douglas
Position: Guard
Experience: 6 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Offensive value predicated on 3-point shooting
+ Can be turnover-prone
+ Quick defender who posts elite steal rates
Analysis
After being waived by New Orleans this summer, Toney Douglas signed a contract for the veteran's minimum with Indiana that is $600,000 guaranteed, per BasketballInsiders.com, where he'll begin the season as the fifth guard in the backcourt rotation. You could do worse. The six-year vet is solidly replacement-level or better and chips in on both ends of the floor. His RPMs have been down the last couple of years in spotty roles. However, he's the rare point guard with above-average catch-and-shoot ability and an above-average baseline for 3-point shooting. Never an elite playmaker, Douglas can get a little loose with the ball. But he can initiate an offense and last season demonstrated improved passing metrics.
As a shooter, he does little inside the arc these days, so if he isn't hitting from deep, it's hard to get him on the floor. When Douglas last got extensive run, he had an above-average single-season defensive RPM and is one of the more dangerous defenders around in terms of playing the passing lanes. He's got good reach for his size which helps in that capacity and also serves to disrupt opposing shooters.
Glenn Robinson III
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic wing with slight build
+ Inconsistent shooter
+ Showed little ability to create offense as a rookie
Analysis
The Pacers' new approach will require capable 3-and-D wings and they signed Glenn Robinson III to see if he can develop into a reliable such player. Robinson finished his rookie season with the 76ers, who did not extend him a qualifying offer after the campaign. Robinson has the requisite athleticism to excel as a perimeter defender in the NBA, though he could stand to get a bit stronger. He only played 261 minutes as a rookie between Minnesota and Philadelphia, so it's tough to get much of a read from his results.
His effective field goal percentage was just .425 and he wasn't able to create much of his own offense. All of this underscores concerns about his jump shot coming out of Michigan. As for the defense, his metrics weren't good, but again, he didn't play enough to draw any conclusions from them. SCHOENE still sees him as replacement level, which is a start as Robinson doesn't turn 22 until after the season begins. There's still time for him to become a bonafide pro.
Rakeem Christmas
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Long, athletic shot-blocker and rebounder
+ Efficient around basket but has limited utility as an offensive player
+ Runs floor well
Analysis
The Pacers signed Christmas to a four-year deal over the summer with the first three seasons of those guaranteed. Christmas, who was taken at No. 36 in June, then circulated among Minnesota, Cleveland and, finally, Indiana, will be groomed to be the kind of mobile-defending big man that can fit the Pacers' new preferred style of play. He's a plus athlete who can get up and down the floor, pound the boards and block shots.
A four-year player at Syracuse, Christmas turns 24 in December and was slow to come on as a scorer during his time with the Orange. He finally came around as a senior, averaging 17.5 points and shooting 55.2 percent from the field. According to hoop-math.com, he got almost half his shots at the rim and converted 70 percent of those. SCHOENE projects him with one of the lowest usage rates in his rookie class, so you can see where this is heading. Christmas will begin his career as a deep reserve and energy guy. Whether he becomes more than that will be determined by how well the team defends with him on the floor.
Shayne Whittington
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Active big man with promising face-up game
+ Needs to improve range on jumper
+ Good shot blocker and rebounder
Analysis
After going undrafted in 2014, Shayne Whittington enters his second NBA season hoping to realize his potential as a face-up big man. We didn't see enough of him last season to get a great read. At Western Michigan, Whittington flashed a capable midrange jumper, but to be a stretch big in the NBA, he'll have to extend that skill to the 3-point arc.
Reportedly, that was the focus of his offseason workouts. He did hit a couple during the Orlando Summer League, but only attempted four overall. Even if Whittington establishes himself as a shooter, he'll have to prove he can hold down the fort on defense. In small sample sizes last year, he allowed 57.8 percent shooting on 45 attempts (first percentile) and committed six fouls per 36 minutes. He rebounded the ball well, and if he can move laterally well enough to swing between both frontcourt positions, this is the right roster for him to gain a foothold in the league.